TRO Condemns SLAF Bombing of IDP Fisher Community

by Tamil Rehabilitation Organization, July 11, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11 July 2007

TRO condemns the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir jet bombing of Alampil, Mullaitivu that has resulted in two 2 civilians being killed, a 15 year-old boy and a 51-year-old woman, and 9 injured.

TRO has been providing assistance to this community since it was devastated by the tsunami in December 2004. TRO built temporary shelters and provided boats, nets and other fishing equipment so that the community could restart their livelihoods.

Due to the actions of the Sri Lanka Navy, which has fired upon their fishing boats in the past, the fishermen have been confined to "shore net" fishing, rather than the preferred deep sea fishing.

Two of the buildings damaged in this SLAF bombing were built post-tsunami for the storing and seasoning of the catch.

The humanitarian and human rights situation in Sri Lanka has reached a critical situation and TRO calls for the international humanitarian community to pressure the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to ensure that civilians are not the targets of their attacks.

Over the past two years numerous TRO projects and IDP camps have been attacked by GoSL security forces. These include:

10 December 2006
40 people killed and 100 injured when GoSL forces shelled 3 TRO IDP camps in Palchchenai, Kandalady and Vammivadduvan.

8 November 2006
Kathiraveli - 47 people killed and 136 injured when GoSL forces shelled a TRO IDP camp and the TRO Sonobo Children's Home was damaged with 12 children injured.

August 2006
TRO boat-making yard in Eachchilampattu shelled by the Sri Lanka Air Force. Details not known due to lack of access. Eachchilampattu is currently a no man's land.

19 August 2006
A boat-making yard built by TRO to repair and re-supply tsunami-affected fishermen with boats was bombed by the SLAF.

All boats under construction (or finished) were destroyed, as was the storeroom and the main building.

26 April 2006
GoSL forces shelled and bombed civilian areas of the Trincomalee District

- TRO Santhosam Children's Home (40 orphans live in the home) damaged by a Kfir bomb

- TRO's office at Kadakarachenai damaged by bombing/shelling

- TRO Muttur / Eachchilampattu office attacked/bombed – food store damaged

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